Adobe snaps up EchoSign to boost e-signature business

Adobe has acquired electronic signature firm EchoSign as the company looks to build out its document exchange platform by simplifying, accelerating and securing the process of signing and tracking documents.

EchoSign produces web-based digital signing for big name firms including Google, NetSuite and SAP. The technology requires no scanning software, signature pads or digital certificates, and is 100 per cent web-based, removing the need for heavy IT investment.

The system automates the entire signature process, from requesting the signature to distributing and executing the relevant signed form, the firm said.

EchoSign technology will be wrapped into Adobe document offerings including SendNow for managed file transfer services, FormsCentral for form creation and CreatePDF for online PDF creation, said Adobe.

"Adobe's document solutions help organistions turn inefficient, paper-based workflows into streamlined electronic ones," said Kevin Lynch, general manager and vice president of Adobe Acrobat.

"By adding electronic signature capabilities to Adobe's document exchange services platform, we will be addressing the need to provide better customer experiences by significantly reducing the time, cost and complexity associated with having a document signed."

Lynch and EchoSign chief executive Jason Lemkin, explained in a blog post on Sunday that the deal will make "electronic signatures the standard way for people to sign documents and automate contracting".

"Adobe's PDF solutions and document exchange services platform have helped organisations turn inefficient, paper-based workflows - like overnight envelopes - into streamlined electronic ones," they added.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.